Options for Sludge Management
M.W. Watermark™ offers a variety of options for the management and disposal of sludge. These options are designed to work with a filter press and include leg extensions, discharge chutes, platforms, cake hoppers, screw conveyors and drip trays.
The sludge management option that will work best for your application depends on several factors, including the size of your filter press, the layout of your facility, and the amount of filter cake (sludge) for disposal.
Leg Extensions, Discharge Chutes and Platforms
For example, if you are utilizing a smaller press, M.W. Watermark offers leg extensions, discharge chutes and platforms allowing filter cake to be discharged directly to a drum or bulk bag. The extended legs (or platform) serves to raise the press, providing room for single or multiple barrels to catch the filter cake when the press is opened – and the cake is released.
Self-Dumping Cake Hopper
Regardless of the size of the press you are working with, a self-dumping cake hopper is very useful for easily handling discharged solids.
Also referred to as a dumpster, these hoppers are furnished with large ball-bearing casters for quick positioning under a press, either manually or by using a lift truck. Once filled, the operator picks up the hopper using a fork-lift truck and positions it over a larger container. The hopper is easily emptied by pulling the spring-loaded self-dump pin.
To learn more about our self-dumping cake hopper, click here to watch a video.
Utilizing Conveyors for Sludge Management
Another option that allows for the transporting of sludge to single or multiple discharge locations is by utilizing an integrated screw conveyor. A screw conveyor can eliminate the need for a forklift or platform while minimizing operator time handling the filter cake. By including an optional inclined conveyor, the filter cake can be moved to a nearby location for temporary storage or directly to a truck/trailer to be hauled away for disposal.
Watch a video about a lime softening application that utilizes an M.W. Watermark 1500mm filter press and supplied horizontal conveyor to transfer filter cake to an inclined conveyor, which in turn transports the dewatered lime cake to a storage area.
Automatic Drip Trays
The addition of automatically actuated drip trays helps catch any filtrate that escapes from between the filter plates during the dewatering process or when power-washing filter plates and cloths. The trays are held in the horizontal position during dewatering or cloth washing and rotated to the vertical position for cake discharge. Actuation of the trays is accomplished by either air or hydraulic cylinders.
The trays slope toward the centerline of the press, where a single trough directs the flow toward a catch basin, which is located beneath the press hydraulic cylinder. The catch basin can be piped for recycling, or to a drain depending on project requirements.
Visit our Filter Cake Discharge Options webpage.
Contact our Sales & Service Team to learn more about how M.W. Watermark can help you with sludge management for your specific application.
About M.W. Watermark
M.W. WATERMARK wants to make a difference. We are passionate about the world’s water. We are innovative, focused on customer service and always try to exceed expectations. We are an environmentally conscious company with people who are energized, encouraged and inspired to make a difference on our planet by helping to keep our shared, finite water supply clean and usable for generations to come. We build amazing, custom water and wastewater treatment equipment. Together, we can make a difference.